A report on

Railways Communication System

Submitted by: Purva Khanna EE JSSATE

Acknowledgment
First of all I would like to heartily thank the RDSO (Research Design and Standards Organization) for providing me with this opportunity of accomplishing a summer training programme in this esteemed organization. The training would not have been so beneficial without the constant support of Mr. S.K. Vyas, Mr. Awadhesh Kumar, Mr. Tarseen Singh, Mr. C. S. Mahobia and Ms. Sadhna. I am also grateful to my parents for encouraging me to undergo this training. Last but not the least I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the electrical department of my college and the HOD for permitting me to undergo this training. I would also like to thank the people of RDSO Lucknow for instilling confidence in us and help us to develop skills to compete in the real world. Purva khanna EE JSSATE Noida

Contents
Integrated Passenger Information System (IPIS)
Digital Clocks With GPS Synchronization Fiber-optic communication LC gate communication system 2w -4w communication system Voice frequency communication system

Integrated Passenger Information System (IPIS)

Integrated Passenger Information System is a single system control providing audio and visual information to passengers, via multiple displays spanning over the entire station.

Includes:

Redundant control console system loaded with Application software LED Display boards of different sizes and serial communication HUB's CCTV PC based Announcement system

Features of control console unit

Dissemination of data with single button click Provision to update data from remote server which is maintaining actual train arrival/departure timings and predictions Reports for disseminated data for future analysis Voice play back and voice recording facility UNICODE standard for data entry of all the languages Intensity control of display boards with user time settings from application software Overall system communication health status indication in application software

Features of display boards

Multi Lingual Display LEDs with more viewing angle and life time Dust proof, weather proof, and water proof systems as per protection class IP 54 Can be realized in different dimensions, character heights and brightness that are customized in accordance to the place of installation, in order for optimal readability.

Serial HUBs

Routing of data to respective destinations Communication health indications on front panel of serial HUBs. Diagnostic routines to indicate faulty ports in serial HUBs

Can be configurable to work either as Main HUB or Platform HUB

Other features

CCTV displays train information in different languages. PC based Voice announcement system in different languages which incorporates following functions: o Automatic Train Arrival and Departure announcement to passengers o Special announcements Provision to display Train Arrival/Departure Information or Cable TV or both (in overlay mode with passenger information as scrolling text on Video or Cable TV) Networking of IPIS applications in local stations for centralized operation.

Digital Clocks with GPS Synchronization

SPECIFICATION NO. RDSO/SPN/TC/62/2008 (Rev-3.0) The Digital Clocks use Global Positioning System (GPS) to Synchronize accurate time and are networked (wired and wireless) systems consisting of One Master Clock and several Clocks for Platform and Office. Master Clock receives time from GPS receiver and sends the same periodically to synchronize all Slave Clocks connected to it. The synchronized time is sent through wired (RS-485) or wireless. SALIENT FEATURES :

Digital Clock is Microcontroller based System. The Clock Synchronizes the signals of the satellite to derive universal GMT time and converts the same into accurate IST. All Digital Clocks working as Slave Clocks and connected to Master Clock will be Synchronized with the time of the Master Clock. Wired/Wireless Communication between Master and Slave Clocks. Real Time Clock Backup for GPS reception. Automatic Synchronization of Real Time Clock, from GPS Receiver. Intensity Control of Slave Clocks from Remote Master Clock Unit. Manual setting of Real Time Clock, Hours and Minutes, 12 Hr. / 24 Hr. format. Test Switch is provided with all Clocks. Front Panel LED indicators for communication health in Master Clock. Front Panel LED indication for GPS receivers health. The Clock has a Portable Plug and play antenna. The antenna has a magnetic provision to mount it out door to clear sky. User friendly, menu driven diagnostic feature in Master Clock Unit like : o Add Clock to network o Delete Clock from network o Brightness Control Level indication of individual clock. o Getting individual Clock details o Reset Clock o Individual Port Control o Wireless enable / disable External GPS Receiver can be connected to all Clocks (Master, Platform and Office Clocks) The System shall continuously display time maintained by the local RTC. This RTC will be adjusted once in one minute to the time received from GPS receiver

or from Master Clock. If GPS data is not available, no adjustment will be done to the Clock and display the local RTC time. Display format of Master Clock will be 7 Segment displays for time display and 16x2 alphanumeric LCD for diagnostic routines. The Clock body is rugged and weather proof.

Applications
Suitable for applications requiring accurate synchronized time displays such as Time Displays in

Railway stations Airports Process industries Sporting Arenas Customer Service Centers Emergency and Police Services

Fiber-optic communication
Fiber-optic communication is a method of transmitting information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fiber. The light forms an electromagnetic carrier wave that is modulated to carry information. First developed in the 1970s, fiber-optic communication systems have revolutionized the telecommunications industry and have played a major role in the advent of the Information Age. Because of its advantages over electrical transmission, optical fibers have largely replaced copper wire communications in core networks in the developed world. An optical fiber (or optical fibre) is a flexible, transparent fiber made of glass (silica) or plastic, slightly thicker than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or light pipe,to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of optical fibers is known as fiber optics. Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than other forms of communication. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with less loss and are also immune to electromagnetic interference. Fibers are also used for illumination, and are wrapped in bundles so that they may be used to carry images, thus allowing viewing in confined spaces. Specially-designed fibers are used for a variety of other applications, including sensors and fiber lasers. Optical fibers typically include a transparent core surrounded by a transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction. Light is kept in the core by total internal reflection. This causes the fiber to act as a waveguide. Fibers that support many propagation paths or transverse modes are called multi-mode fibers (MMF), while those that only support a single mode are called single-mode fibers (SMF). Multi-mode fibers generally have a wider core diameter, and are used for short-distance communication links and for applications where high power must be transmitted. Single-mode fibers are used for most communication links longer than 1,050 meters (3,440 ft).

Joining lengths of optical fiber is more complex than joining electrical wire or cable. The ends of the fibers must be carefully cleaved, and then spliced together, either mechanically or by fusing them with heat. Special optical fiber connectors for removable connections are also available. The process of communicating using fiber-optics involves the following basic steps: Creating the optical signal involving the use of a transmitter, relaying the signal along the fiber, ensuring that the signal does not become too distorted or weak, receiving the optical signal, and converting it into an electrical signal.

Technology
Modern fiber-optic communication systems generally include an optical transmitter to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal to send into the optical fiber, a cable containing bundles of multiple optical fibers that is routed through underground conduits and buildings, multiple kinds of amplifiers, and an optical receiver to recover the signal as an electrical signal. The information transmitted is typically digital information generated by computers, telephone systems, and cable television companies.

Fiber cable types and modes

An optical fiber consists of a core, cladding, and a buffer (a protective outer coating), in which the cladding guides the light along the core by using the method of total internal reflection. The core and the cladding (which has a lower-refractive-index) are usually made of high-quality silica glass, although they can both be made of plastic as well. Connecting two optical fibers is done by fusion splicing or mechanical splicing and requires special skills and interconnection technology due to the microscopic precision required to align the fiber cores. Two main types of optical fiber used in optic communications include multi-mode optical fibers and single-mode optical fibers. A multi-mode optical fiber has a larger core ( 50 micrometers), allowing less precise, cheaper transmitters and receivers to connect to it as well as cheaper connectors. However, a multi-mode fiber introduces multimode distortion, which often limits the bandwidth and length of the link. Furthermore, because of its higher dopant content, multi-mode fibers are usually expensive and exhibit higher attenuation. The core of a single-mode fiber is smaller (<10 micrometers) and requires

more expensive components and interconnection methods, but allows much longer, higher-performance links.

Dispersion
For modern glass optical fiber, the maximum transmission distance is limited not by direct material absorption but by several types of dispersion, or spreading of optical pulses as they travel along the fiber. Dispersion in optical fibers is caused by a variety of factors. Intermodal dispersion, caused by the different axial speeds of different transverse modes, limits the performance of multi-mode fiber. Because single-mode fiber supports only one transverse mode, intermodal dispersion is eliminated. In single-mode fiber performance is primarily limited by chromatic dispersion (also called group velocity dispersion), which occurs because the index of the glass varies slightly depending on the wavelength of the light, and light from real optical transmitters necessarily has nonzero spectral width (due to modulation). Polarization mode dispersion, another source of limitation, occurs because although the single-mode fiber can sustain only one transverse mode, it can carry this mode with two different polarizations, and slight imperfections or distortions in a fiber can alter the propagation velocities for the two polarizations. This phenomenon is called fiber birefringence and can be counteracted by polarization-maintaining optical fiber. Dispersion limits the bandwidth of the fiber because the spreading optical pulse limits the rate that pulses can follow one another on the fiber and still be distinguishable at the receiver.

Attenuation
Fiber attenuation, which necessitates the use of amplification systems, is caused by a combination of material absorption, Rayleigh scattering, Mie scattering, and connection losses. Although material absorption for pure silica is only around 0.03 dB/km (modern fiber has attenuation around 0.3 dB/km), impurities in the original optical fibers caused attenuation of about 1000 dB/km. Other forms of attenuation are caused by physical stresses to the fiber, microscopic fluctuations in density, and imperfect splicing techniques.

LC Gate Warning System for Manned Interlocked Gate

The system gives audio visual warning to the gate man about an approaching train. This warning ensures that the gate is not closed too early inconveniencing the road users or too late detaining the train by not closing the Gate when a train approaches gate signal. This warning is prescribed for interlocked gates. Approaching Train can be detected using occupancy of a nominated track circuit. To provide optimum time for gate man to close the gate, a track circuit, which is already available at about 3 km, is selected. However, if there is no track circuit at 3 km, nearest existing track circuit is considered. This is to avoid maintenance of a track circuit exclusively for the purpose of approach warning. In practical situations, the track circuit immediately after the last stop signal of the station is used as approach track for all the LC gates in the block section. Sometimes if the distance between the first LC gate and the track circuit is too less, approach warning is given as soon as the last stop signal is cleared. In both the cases, it is a digital signal (track occupied and signal yellow or green lamp lit) whose state of change generates approach warning. LC GATE Warning System

Advantages:

The system gives audio visual warning to the gate man about an approaching train. This warning ensures that the gate is not closed too early inconveniencing the road users or too late detaining the train by not closing the Gate when a train approaches gate signal. This warning is prescribed for interlocked gates.. The system provides visual warning to Station Master about the status of LC gate. Gate Man discipline compliance and characteristic can be analyzed with logged data. Necessary reports can be generated to improve the safety and performance.

Specifications:

The system gives audio visual warning to the gate man about an approaching train. This warning ensures that the gate is not closed too early inconveniencing the road users or too late detaining the train by not closing the Gate when a train approaches gate signal The system shall monitor and log all the field parameters like signal and gate controlling relays, Analog Voltages LC gate information is transmitted to central place and depicted in the NMDL

The system shall be capable of working in an ambient temperature range of -10 to 70 The system shall be networked using leased line modems The system shall have health monitoring, to monitor power supply and communication to indicate system failure. The system shall run in case of Power Failure

Technical Specification for LC gate Equipment:

Digital Inputs - 32 ( Optically isolated) Analog Inputs - 8 Voice Modem Ports - 2 Data Retrieval through PC User interface is provided with buttons and Seven Segments Audio and Visual Indication with acknowledgement Power Supply : 24 V DC

Technical Specification Sensor Module at Station:

Data Logger Interface to transfer Data to central place Data Retrieval through PC Data backup for 1 year Modem Communication ports (2wire or 4 Wire): 2 Power Supply : 24 V DC

Two and Four Wire Transmission

Communication from the site of accident is to be established as soon as an accident takes place. For this purpose, drivers of all trains shall be provided with portable control telephones. Portable control telephones shall be 2 wire type in overhead communication territory, 4 wire type in underground cable territory, and shall be of 2 wire / 4 wire type wherever a train passes through both overhead communication and underground cable territories or 2 wire / 4 wire type may be used over both type of territories. As soon as an accident occurs, driver/asst. driver shall establish communication with the portable control telephone by hooking on to the overhead lines / plugging into the emergency sockets, so as to establish communication with control office. 2 Wire Way Station Equipment This is meant to be connected at way side stations working on DTMF signaling on 2 wire basis.

4 Wire 2 Wire Conversion Unit This is specifically designed to enable operation of the control where both 4 wire and 2 wire working is required. 4 Wire Way Station Equipment This is meant to be connected at the Way Side Stations working on DTMF signaling on 4 Wire Omni bus circuits.

Control Room Equipment This consists of a micro-computer controlled DTMF generator, display, line interface and speech circuit. This system is meant for operation over 4 wire cable, microwave or optic fiber link.

The "Hybrid" Transformer

It is not possible to extend, through a telecommunications network, a 2-wire telephone circuit. Therefore, special 2-Wire to 4-Wire converters, known as 'hybrids' provide the conversion to the 4-Wire facilities required. A basic hybrid contains two transformers and four specific windings: 2-Wire line, 4-Wire Transmit, 4-Wire Receive, and a Balance (or, 'Compromise') Network.

Generally, signals input to the hybrid on the 4W Receive leg of the circuit can be fed back to the 4W Transmit. THESE SIGNALS RETURN AS 'ECHO'. The balance network however, can provide some adjustments such that the signals from the two transformer sections cancel each other out, negating the echo.

Voice frequency communication system

SPECIFICATION NO : RDSO/SPN/TC/34/2002 (Ver.4) The Voice Frequency Communication System is used with Underground PET 4/6 Quad Cable of 0.9mm dia, having characteristic impedance of 470 ohms vide Specification No. IRS: TC: 30/07 for Telecommunication between Way Side Stations and Control Office / Test Room. By using this System, the PET Quad need not be loaded to compensate the uneven attenuation characteristics over the voice band. There shall be no need for balancing. The typical characteristics of the cable are that the attenuation (losses) increases with frequency in the band of 300 - 3400 Hz. The Equalizer Amplifier designed for the System has the counter characteristics to equalize the cable losses in the V.F. Band of 300 to 3400 Hz. The System comprises of :

1. Multiple Way Station Equipment (depending on the Section) The Way Station Equipment (WSE) consists of required numbers of KRONE Connectors, 2 Nos. of Link Panel, 4 Nos. of Quad Amplifiers (for Section, Emergency, Deputy and S&T Control Circuits), 2 Nos. of 4 Wire DTMF Decoder and Control Telephone (for Section and Deputy Controls), and Radio Patching facility. Each Quad Amplifier consists of a Remote Sensor to send the details of the status of the Station to the Test Room. An optical 8 Way Intercom can be provided in the Way Station Equipment as required by the Consignee. 2. Test Room Equipment and Allied Control Office as well as Emergency Control Room Equipment. The Test Room Equipment is the same as a Way Station Equipment except that it has no 4 Wire DTMF Decoders. It has a 6 Way Branching Network with 4 Wire Control Telephones in non-conferencing mode and a Remote Monitor (TableTop) to Send Commands to / Receive Response from, any Station.